Christian Hurd and Kendall Brown
Two students from Westside Middle School represented Whitfield County Schools at the Georgia All-State Chorus in Savannah last weekend.
Eighth-graders Kendall Brown and Christian Hurd successfully navigated the rigorous audition process judged by Georgia music teachers for the privilege to sing in one of these prestigious choirs. Judges seek students with excellent sight-reading skills, aural skills, interpretation, technique, and knowledge of music theory.
More than 8,000 students auditioned and only 1,500 students were accepted to polish the musical literature they prepared before arriving in Savannah. A recording of their Saturday afternoon performance will be played on Georgia Public Radio at a later date.
This was the second year eighth-grader Kendall Brown earned the privilege of performing in the All-State Chorus. She is the daughter of Vance and Valerie Brown, of Rocky Face, and sang under the direction of Dr. Sharon Paul, the associate professor of music and director of choral activities at the University of Oregon.
Christian Hurd, the son of Brittany and Michael Hurd, sang in the Middle School Mixed Choir under the direction of Adam Jonathan Con, the associate music professor at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Con is director of choral activities and coordinator of music education at the university.
Dr. Stanley Stewart is the principal at Westside Middle School where Dale Thomas is choral director.
Dr. Paul frequently appears as adjudicator, clinician, conference headliner, and honor choir director throughout the country. She has conducted engagements at Festival Disney at Disney World, and All-State choirs in Hawaii, California, and New York. Choirs under her direction have performed at state conferences and venues American Choral Directors Association.
Mr. Con is a conductor, a visionary, a respected teacher of conducting, and a leader in the advocacy of music education. He is a native of Vancouver and a third generation Chinese Canadian who espouses a holistic approach to choral music through a unique blend of kinesthetic whole body movement and eastern philosophy. Mr. Con is in high demand in the U.S. and Canada as a guest clinician.